B-2000

[mcwoodduck]

I was out seeing a customer in a new area and when I took him out to lunch I saw a sporting good store on the way.
I drove around town and saw a few other customers and on my way out of town I stopped in the shop.
In the back on the used rack I saw a shotgun with what looked like a browning cap but did not recognize the forearm and the stock.
Asked to see it.
It was A B-2000, a neat little semi auto that only holds two rounds.  The second one loads from a hole in the side of the reciever.
Well with a little TLC I think I can get this to look really good.  Some of the blueing is worn in the normal spots.
When I saw the Price of $150 I said OK and bought it. 
Figured I could always use it taking customers to shoot sporting clays.
Don't have any pictures, my pick up date is 8/1 or after.
I actually have a question for all of you and I am not just ragging on getting a new BB gun for under $200 out the door with a box of Win AA's.
The question is:  Is there anything I should look out for in this model?  Were thye discontinued for the silver model or was there a prolem with the gun?

[charles p]

I don't think it sold well.  Just wasn't a market for it back then.  I've only seen one myself.

[Rangr44]

Is the shotgun marked "B-2000" ?

The reason I'm asking is that AFAIK, B-2000's had a four-shot magazine.
Here's the Browning manual for them:

http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/2000autoshot_om.pdf

If your shotgun will only accept a single shotshell in the mag after the chamber's loaded via the speedloading method, either there's a magazine plug in place, or you have a Browning Double Auto - one of the OTHER Browning shotguns with that loading port on the left side.

.

[mcwoodduck]

Thanks.
It is a Browning two shot model.from what I can find out about the serial number it is a first year model.
I can pick it up tomorrow. 

[Rangr44]

A "Browning two-shot model" wouldn't be a 1974-1983 B-2000, it would be a much more collectable/desireable Browning Double Auto, made from 1952-71.         


If the dealer thought it was a B-2000, and tagged/PRICED it as such, ILO a Double Auto, I can just about guarantee you scored !

A Double Auto is worth 2X what a B-2000 is worth.

.

[mcwoodduck]

Serial Number ends in C47 and according the the browning site it is a 74 made unit.
I have not had it in my hands for long other than to throw it to my shoulder a few times look for a choke on the barrel and then work the action a couple of times to make sure there were no hang ups.
I may just have to take the two hour ride out there tomorrow and pick it up and head to a skeet range for a quick round.  Then I will take it home and tear it down to clean and lube the gun.
From what I understand about it, it is a two shot only but I will know more when I see how many it will hold. 

[Rangr44]

Then it's most likely not a Double Auto, both due to the year, and serial number codes.

The Double Auto's year codes were the last two digits of the actual year as a prefix, so:  A Double Auto, serial 69A265847, would be a 1969 gun.

.

[saltydog]

From the serial # it would be a B 2000 made in 1974 - IMO they are not really good shotguns. Browning's first attempt at a gas operated shotgun - there were 2 barrel models for both 2 3/4 and 3 in ch shells. Glitches abounded with them. I really enjoy my Browning's however I would not buy this one to impress a customer with - get a Benelli Montefeltro 12 ga. - I have never seen anyone with just a bit of skill fail to break clay's with one first time out.

[mcwoodduck]

OK,
Still figure for under $200 bucks can't be too big of a mistake.
The Benelli guns are great but like the Beretta they have a problem with novices.
I refer to the little button somewhere that holds open the bolt after you shuck out the shells.
When taking customers out most forget that little tab and start walking around with a closed bolt if they need to clear the gun for any reason.

[mcwoodduck]

Saltydog,
Well some of your fears were realized.
I picket up the gun on Sat.  the shop was 2 hours away so when I got home I pulled the gun out and it seemed fine.  I stuck a couple of snap caps in it and they fed perfect.
I figured if the gun feeds it should be OK.
Well the next day, went to shoot sporting clays and the gun went bang....  but nothing else.
when I got it home and took the gun all apart the gas system was in upside down.  Cleaned the gunk off of the gas parts assembled them in the proper order and with the hole facing up to take the gas from the barrel.
Think I will hit the skeet range here in town tomorrow night to see if it works.
Everyone,
Thanks for your help

[razmuz]

I hunted with a B-2000 for several years.  It is a good enough shotgun and works great for a left hander.  I traded it off because it was so hard to break down and put back together.  To clean it I always had to get out the owners book.  I now shoot a Benelli only because it's so easy to clean.   Shot guns really all shoot the same.  If you spend over $300 you just wasted money.  The proffesionals that use $3000 + guns can do just as good with an 870.  It's the man not the gun.  You can get used to anything.

[mcwoodduck]

My old boss and I took a couple of my customers out to shoot sporting clays.
My boss was making excuses about the shotgun he was shooting. 
My customer had me shoot my boss' gun.
I ran the station with the gun.
My customer turned to my boss and said
"Steve it ain't the arrow, it's the indian"

[Warhawk]

The B-2000 was Browning's first gas operated automatic shotgun. They had a bad reputation for reliability but most of the ones that I saw (worked in a Sporting Goods store back then) were either filthy or assembled incorrectly.  I bought one that "didn't work" for a song and after a good cleaning it was flawless. The side loading port made it an excellent sporting clays gun. The real purpose of the side port was, when the gun was empty and the bolt locked back, you fed a shell in thru the side port and it automatically chambered, ready to fire.

The B-2000 fit me well, and I shot it well, I wish I still had it.

[mcwoodduck]

Since I posted this.
 have shot the gun quite a bit.  Works well, has broken quite a few clays, killed a few Dove and even bit me when  was not paying attention loading it. 
But it works well and is a good stand by auto.